Acting NFF president Seyi Akinwunmi said in a statement, that the FIFA report had been given to the body’s lawyers “to study and provide legal advice to the federation,” he said, adding that Siasia “gave his all for Nigeria.”

The statement added: “The NFF was shocked to learn of the investigation and subsequent decision by the FIFA Ethics Committee (Adjudicatory Chamber) placing a life ban on Mr. Samson Siasia.

“He is a football legend but most importantly he is a Nigerian.

“We respect the FIFA processes. The least we as a Federation can do is empathise with him at this time make ourselves available to him and hope that in some way he is able to clear his name.”